Grinding machines



July 6, 1965 J. HENsLEY 3,192,673

GRINDING MACHINES Filed April l0, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 ...n/n JMS L. MSM Y) ATTRNEYS J. L. HENSLEY GRINDING MACHINES July 6, 1965 Filed Api-i1 1o. 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MM-l DW, MJ SMvl/d/;

ATTORNEYS July 6, 1965 J. L. HENsLEY GRINDING MACHINES Filed April 10, 1965A 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR M .MLM//m ATToRNEYs BY @MWI DM' July 5, 1965 J. L. HENSLEY 3,192,673

GRINDING MACHINES l Filed April 10, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR July 6, l965 I J. L. Hl-:NsLr-:Y 3,192,673

GRINDING MACHINES l Filed April 1o, 196s s sheets-sheet 5 July 6, 1965 J. L. HENSLEY GRINDING MACHINES Filed April 10, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV ENT OR MINES L. Aff/vm,

BY wq, DM, l Swdxul/a A'ITORNEXCS J. L. HENSLEY GRINDING MACHINES July 6, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 10, 1963 ATTORNEYS July 6, 1965 J. L. HENsLl-:Y 3,192,673

GRINDING' MACHINES y Filed April l0. 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,92 ,673 GRINDWG MACHENES James L. Hensley, Clinton, Tenn., assignor to Tysaman Machine Company, Knoxviiie, Tenn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 149, i963, Ser. No. 272,691 1l "`lainis. (Cl. 5l-34) This invention relates to grinding machines and, more particularly, to means for feeding and supporting Workpieces in grinding machines.

Steel, particularly high alloy steel, is cast in the form of billets and as the molten metal cools, a scale forms on the surface of the billets and cracks occur in the surface. The cracks and the scale must be removed before the billets pass to the finishing processes. Grinding machines have been developed for supporting and guiding a grinding wheel longitudinally along the billet to remove the cracks and the scale with a minimum of manual labor. In one type of grinding machine for surface grinding of billets, a grinding wheel is mounted on a carriage and the carriage is movable longitudinally along a beam. A billet holding fixture under the beam supports the billet in position for engagement with the grinding wheel as the carriage moves along the beam. The beam on which the carriage is mounted is movable transversely relative to the billet table. A grinding machine of this type is described in Patent No. 2,807,123.

Grinding machines are often enclosed in a housing to keep the circulation of dust to a minimum. The roof of the housing in which the grinding machine is located interferes with the loading of billets on the table from an overhead crane. Therefore, the heavy billets must be loaded by hand onto the billet table of the grinding machine. This method of loading is hazardous to the men who are loading the billets and a considerable amount of time is wasted in loading and unloading the billets. Furthermore, there is no provision for storing the billets which are awaiting transfer to the billet table.

In view of the defects of the prior art grinding machines and particularly of the work holders for billet type grinding machines, it isan object of this invention to provide apparatus for supporting workpieces and billets in grinding machines.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for loading and unloading billets on a billet table of a grinding machine.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide apparatus for storing and conveying billets to the work holding table of the grinding machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved billet table.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention by a billet holding table which is mounted on a car. Tracks extend transversely under the beam of the grinding machine and the car rides on the tracks from a position under the beam where a billet on the billet table may be engaged by the grinding wheel to a position in front of the beam and carriage, so that the top of the car, including the billet holding table, is exposed and uncovered. Adjacent the grinding machine and between the tracks, a storage table is provided. Billets are stored transversely on the table and a fence is movable longitudinally of the table for displacing selectively the billets, one at a time, off the table at the end of the table nearest the grinding machine. The height of the storage table is slightly above that of the billet holding table on the car and when a billet is displaced off the storage table, it falls onto the billet holding table of the car which has been moved against the end of the storage table. The car also includes a storage bin ice where the billets are deposited from the billet table after the surfaces of the billet have been ground. In a modiiied form, the car has a transverse roller conveyor behind the billet table for temporarily storing the finished billets and for conveying them off of the car. The modified form also has a rotating billet holder for cylindrical billets.

This preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the grinding machine and billet storage table of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the car of the grinding machine;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational View of the car;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the car;

FIG. 5 is a detail top plan view of the billet holding table',

FIG. 6 is a detail front elevational View of the billet holding table;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the table along the line 7-7 in FlG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the table along the line 8-8 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the storage table of this invention;

FG. l0 is a side elevational view of the storage table;

FG. ll is a cross sectional view of the billet holding table along the line 11-11 in FIG. 5;

. FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the billet holding table along the line 12-12 in FIG. 5; Y

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a modified form of the car;

FG. 14 is a cross sectional View of the modified form of the car along the line 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the car along the line 15-15 in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the car as in FIG. 15.

Referring to FIG. 1, the grinding machine of this invention includes upright supporting posts 2 and 4. A beam 6 is rigidly mounted on the posts 2 and 4 and a carriage 8 is movable along the beam 6 by means of rollers which cooperate with rails lil and 12 on the beam. The carriage 8 includes a motor and a conventional drive mechanisrn for moving the carriage along the rails 10 and 12. A grinding wheel assembly 14 is mounted on the carriage 8 and is driven by a motor on the carriage. The carriage drive motor and the grinder drive motor are conventional and therefore the carriage is shown schematically.

A pair or" rails 16 are secured to the oor and extend between the posts 2 and 4. A car 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, having hanged wheels 26, is movable longitudinally on the rails l5. The car 18 has a box frame 22. A platform 24 at one side of the car i3 supports a speed reducer 26 which is driven by an electric motor 2S through a belt drive 3i). A drive chain 32 is driven by the low speed sprocket of the speed reducer 26 and the chain 32 extends over a drive sprocket 34 secured on an axle 35 supporting and driving theV wheels 20. Idler sprockets 36 guide the chain 32 between speed reducer 26 and the drive sprocket 34.

At the front of the car 18, a billet table 38 is mounted for swinging movement. The billet table 38 is shown schematically in FIG. 3 and in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. The table 3S is supported on stub shafts 40 extending outward from opposite ends of the table. The shafts 40 are journaled in pillow blocks 42 which are mounted on the frame 22. Swinging motion is imparted to the billet table 38 by an electric motor 44. A speed reduced 46 which is mounted on the platform 24 supports the motor 44 and is connected with the motor by a belt 48. A secondary speed reducer is mounted on the shaft 40. The input shaft of the speed reducer 50 is connected by a drive 3 chain 52 with the output shaft of the speed reducer 46. Both of the motors 28 and 44 are brake type motors and therefore the position of the car 18 on the rails i6 and the angular position of the table 38 can be maintained during the grinding operation.

At the rear of the car 18, a plurality of bars dare secured in the frame 22 in parallel relation. The bars 54 are below the surface of the platform 24, so that in cooperation with the frame 22, a billet storage box 56 is formed at the rear of the car.

The billet holding table 38 is shown in detail in FIGS. 5 to 8, 1l and 12. The table 38 has a central I-beam 58 having end plates 60 welded or otherwise secured thereto. The stub shafts 40 are keyed or welded to the plates 66 to prevent rotation of the shafts 48 relative to the respecltive plates 60. Gne side of the beam 58 forms a billet supporting surface 62. An edge stop 64 is secured to the beam 5S adjacent the rear edge of the surface 62, at opposite ends of the beam.

A billet rotating device is also provided on the rear edge of the beam 5S. The billet rotating device cornprises a shaft 66 journaled in bearings 68 which are Welded or otherwise suitably secured to a mounting plate 70 which extends along the rear side of the beam 58. A plurality of cams 72 are keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 66. The shape of each cam 72 is such, that in one position, as shown in FIG. 11, a portion of the cam extends perpendicularly to the surface 62 and is in alignment with the stops 64. A lobe 74 on each arm 72 is normally positioned below the surface 62.. The cams 72 are rotated by hydraulic cylinders 76, the piston of each of which is connected to one of the series of Cams 72 by connecting rods 78. Each of the cylinders 76 is mounted in trunnions 8i) which are secured to mounting plates 82 in the beam 58. Upon retraction of the connecting rod 78 by the piston in each cylinder 76, the cams 72 on the shaft 66 are rotated to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 11. When a billet is supported on the surface 62 against the upright portion of the cams 72 and the stops 64, and it is desired to rotate the billet, the cams 72 are rotated by the cylinders 76, so that the lobes 74 engage the corner of the billet and lift it sutliciently for the billet to roll over on the adjacent side.

Billets are clamped against the cams '72 and the stops 64 by a pair of arms 84 which are mounted in brackets 86 at the front of the table 38. Pins 88 which are secured to each arm 84 extends through the respective brackets 86 and are mounted for rotation therein. Crank arms 99 are welded or otherwise secured to each of the pins 88. At each end of the table 38, a hydraulic cylinder 92 is mounted for swinging movement on a bracket 94 which is secured to the end plate 60. Each cylinder 92 has a connecting rod 96 which is secured at one end to the piston in the cylinder 92 and at the opposite end to the crank arms 90 by means of a pin 98 thereby permitting relative swinging movement between the connecting rod 96 and the crank arms 90. Movement of the connecting rods 96 away from the plate 68 causes the arms 84 to swing across the surface 62 of the table 38 toward the cams 72, thereby clamping a billet against the cams and the stops 64.

rThe billets are loaded on the billet table 38 from a storage table 189, as shown in FIGS. 1, 9 and l0. The table i) includes a frame l21.02 supported on legs 104. Cross beams 106 are mounted on the frame 182 and a plurality of longitudinal rails 108 are secured on the beams 106. A fence y1l() is supported on the rails 103 by rollers 1.12. Guide rollers 114 on opposite sides of the rollers 11.2 maintain the fence 110 in substantially perpendicular relation with the rails 108. The fence 110 is propelled along the rails 108 by a reversible motor 1,16 which is connected with a speed reducer `1.18. The output sprocket of the speed reducer L13 is connected with a shaft 128 and the opposite ends of the shaft 12) are provided with sprockets 122. At the opposite side of the table im), sprockets 124 are mounted for rotation on the frame 182 and are in alignment with the sprockets 12?.. A drive chain 126 extends over each of the pair of sprockets 122 and 124 and the ends of each chain l26 are secured to the respective ends of the fence 1li), so that upon rotation of the shaft 120 by the motor M6, the fence 118 moves along the rails 188. At the front of the table lili?, several of the rails 108 are undercut to accommodate the clamp arms 84 of the billet table, which is shown in phantom line in FG. 9. The ends of the remaining rails E8?) are in the form of bumpers 128 which extend beyond the ends of the other rails for positioning the table relative to the rail 16S.

The movements of the carriage 8, the car 18, including the billet table 3S, and the fence 110 of the storage table lil@ are preferably controlled from a console 139 which is mounted on the support post 4, as shown in FIG. 1. A limit switch 132 on the car 18 is connected by suitable wires at the control console 136. An actuator rod 13d on the leg of the table lil is in position for actuating the switch 132 to stop the motor 28, when the car has moved su'liiciently close to the table 109 for the table 38 to be in the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Furthermore, limit switches E36 are mounted on the frame 102 of the table in position to be actuated by the fence 11.0 thereby stopping the motor 116, as the .fence approaches the extreme ends of the table.

in operation, billets are stored transversely on the rails L38 of the storage table 10). The billets may be loaded on the table by any convenient method. A billet is transferred from the table 160 to the support surface 62 of the billet table 3S by advancing the car 18 to the end of the table we, so that it is in the position shown in dotted lines in FlGS. 9 and l0. The clamp arms 84 are moved outward, as shown in FG. 9 by the cylinders 92. The cams 72 are in the position shown in full lines in FIG. ll. The motor M6 is then started, so that the fence 110 advances along the raiis 108 to push a billet off the end of the table over the bumpers 128. The clamp arms 84 are then swung toward the billet which has been deposited on the billet table 38 to push the billet against the stops 64 and the cams 72. The car is then moved away from the table 169 and under the grinding wheel 14. Grinding of the billet is commenced and the carriage 8 moves along the beam 6 to grind off the scale and cracks on the surface of the billet. The billet table 38 may be rotated for grinding the corners of the billet by operating the motor 44.

After one side of the billet has been ground, the billet is rotated by moving the carriage 8 with the grinding Wheel 1.4 away from the billet and rotating the cams 72 by means of the hydraulic cylinders 76 to lift one side of the billet on the lobes 74. The lobes raise one side of the billet high enough for the billet to fall over on its adjacent side and the clamp arms 84 are swung across the surface 62 to push the billet against the cams 72, which have since een rotated to their normal position. After all four sides af the billet have been ground, the billet may be discharged from the table into the storage bin 56 in the car 18. This is accomplished by raising thegrinding wheel 1li away from the billet and rotating the table 38, so that it slopes toward the bin suciently for the billet to fall over the cams 72 and into the storage bin 56. The car 18 may then be advanced again up to the storage table 108 to receive another billet. After the storage bin 56 has been filled with iinished billets, they may all be removed by any convenient method.

A modified form of the billet holding car of this inven tion is illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16. The Car 140 is adapted for holding billets having either a rectangular or circular cross section. It is therefore more versatile than the basic billet holding car 18 previously described. The car 140 has a frame 142 which is supported on anged wheels 144 whereby the car is mounted on the rails 16. The rear wheels 144 are mounted on shafts 146 journaled for rotation in portions of the frame 142. The front wheels 144 are mounted on a common axle 148 and a sprocket wheel (not shown) is secured on one end of the axle 148 in the same manner as the sprocket 34- on the axle 3S of the car 1S. A drive chain 1513 connects the sprocket Wheel with a pulley on a speed reducer 152. An electric motor 154 is mounted on the speed reducer 152 and power is transmitted from the motor 154 to the speed reducer by a belt 156, thereby rotating the wheels 144 for propelling the car 140.

At the front of the car 141i, a billet table 158 is mounted on the frame 142 in substantially the same manner as the billet table 38 of the basic billet car 18, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The angular position of the table 158 is adjusted by an electric motor 164B, which is connected by an endless drive chain with a primary speed reducer 162. A secondary speed reducer 164 is driven by the primary speed reducer 162 and is mounted on a stub shaft 166 of the table 158 in the same manner as the speed reducer 50 of the basic billet car 18 is mounted on the shaft 42, as shown in FlGS. 2 to 4. The billet table 158 is of substantially the same construction as the table 38, shown in FGS. 5 and 6. The billet table 158 includes clamp arms 168 and a billet turning device 179 which is essentially the same as that shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 11.

Behind the billet table 158 and below the surface of the table, a transverse roller conveyor is mounted on the frame 142. The conveyor includes a frame 172 -in which are mounted a plurality of rollers 174. The rollers are 174 journaled for rotation independently of each other in the frame 172. A transverse shaft 17 6 extends between opposite sides of the frame 172 at one end. The shaft 176 is journaled in bearings 178, which are secured to the car frame 142. The conveyor frame 172 rests On the car frame 142, as shown in FIG. 14.

A fence 18@ is secured on the car frame 142 along one side of the conveyor frame 172 to maintain the conveyor rame 172 in the proper position on the car frame 142 and to prevent billets from falling off of the rollers 174 when they are discharged from the table 158. A typical guide bar 182 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, is mounted between upright posts 184 in the table 158. A shaft 186 which extends on opposite sides of the bar 182 supports the bar 182 between the posts 184 for swinging movement. The bars 182, as shown in FIG. 13, are spaced along the length of the billet table 158 and each of the bars 182 extends over the side rail of the frame 172. When the table 158 is tilted, as shown in phantom lines in FG. l5, the bars 182 swing relative to the table and are sufficiently long to remain in engagement with the side rail of the frame 172. When a billet is discharged from the billet table by swinging movement of the table, the billet strikes the bars 182 and falls over on the rollers 174 of the transverse conveyor.

A billet may be conveyed o of the car by raising the end of the conveyor frame 172 opposite the bearings 178. This is accomplished by means of a hydraulic cylinder 188, which is pivotally mounted at one end on a cross member 199 of the frame 142. A bearing 192 for the .connecting rod at the opposite end of the cylinder is supported by a plate 194 which extends between the opposite rails of the frame 172 and is secured thereto by welding or other suitable means. Upon expansion of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder 188, one end of the frame 172 is raised, thereby swinging the frame 172 on the bearings 178 until there is a suiicient slope of the conveyor for a biliet to be conveyed oif of the car 1li-i). The arms 182 swing upward with the frame 172.

At the rear of the car, a rotating cylindrical billet holder is mounted on the frame 149. The rotating billet holder includes an idler shaft 196 which is mounted in bearings 128. A plurality of discs 2119 are secured at spaced intervals on the shaft 196. A drive shaft 2112 is similarly mounted in bearings 204 on the frame 142. A plurality of discs 205 which are in alignment with the discs 2953 are secured on the shaft 282. The drive shaft 202 has a sprocket wheel 28 secured thereon at one end and is connected by an endless chain 210 with a speed reducer 212. The speed reducer 212 is driven by an electric motor 214 for rotating the shaft 202 and thereby imparting rotation to a circular billet on the discs 260 and 296.

The modified form of the car may be used -in the same manner as the basic car 18 for grinding billets of rectangular cross section. After the grinding operation is completed, the table 153 is tilted to transfer the billet to the rollers 174 of the roller conveyor. The conveyor frame 172 is then raised at one end bythe hydraulic cylinder 188, so that the billet moves transversely over the rollers 17d and is discharged at the side of the car frame 142. Circular billets may be loaded on the discs 281i and 266 by an overhead crane or other suitable means after the car has moved out from under the beam 6. A circular billet may be rotated by the electric motor 214 to progressively expose portions of the surface of the cylinder to the grinding wheel as the carriage 8 reciprocates along the rails 1t) and 12. After the grinding operation is completed, the car is then moved outward from under the beams 6 and the finished billet may be removed.

The improved grinding machine of this invention permits the efficient loading and unloading of the grinding machine, with a minimum of time and eifort. Since the billets are handled automatically, the grinding machine requires only a single operator at the console for controlling the motion of the car 18 and operating the table 109. Since the operator does not lift the billets, there is no danger of personal injury.

The modified form of the car 140 Aillustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16 has the additional advantage of a transverse conveyor for discharging the rectangular billets from the car and a rotating holder for cylindrical billets. The versatility that this car provides is particularly important to a small foundry where it is necessary to grind a variety of shapes and sizes of billets with the same grinding machine.

While this invention has been illustrated and described in two embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. Billet transfer apparatus comprising .a table, means forming a supporting surface on the table, a fence extending transversely of the table, means for reciprocating the fence longitudinally ofthe table between opposite ends of the table, a portion of one end of the surface being contoured to accommodate a billet clamping xtureof a grinding machine, whereby upon movement of the fence, a biliet lying transversely of the table is displaced ofIr of said end of the table.

2. Billet transfer apparatus comprising a table, a plurality of longitudinal rails on the table, a fence extending transversely or" the table, a motor, means forming a driving connection between the fence and the motor for reciprocating Ithe fence longitudinally of the table, at least two of said rails having their end at one side of the table in substantial transverse alignment, and other of said rails having their ends at said side spaced interiorly of the ends of said two rails to receive a portion of a billet table, whereby upon movement of the fence, a billet is displaced off 0f said side of the table.

3. Billet transfer apparatus comprising a table, .a plurality of longitudinal rails on the table, a fence extending transversely of the table, means for mounting the fence on the rails for movement therealong, a lirst pair of sprocket Wheels mounted at opposite ends of the table, a second pair of sprocket wheels mounted at opposite ends of the table, and endless chain connecting the first pair of wheels with one end of the fence, an endless chain coninecting the second pair of wheels with the opposite end of 7 the fence, means for rotating the sprocket wheels, selectively whereby a billet on the rails is displaced off the end of the table.

4. In a grinding machine having an overhead traversing rotary grinding wheel, billet handling apparatus comprising a frame, said frame being mounted on Wheel means, means for selectively rotating the wheel means for propelling the frame relative to the grinding wheel, a billet` holding fixture, means mounting the fixture on the frame,V

receptacle means on the frame adjacent the fixture in position to receive a billet from the lixture, and means for displacing a billet from the fixture into the receptacle means, said receptacle means including a conveyor, and means for selectively operating the conveyor to dispense the billet off the frame.

6. In a grinding machine having an overhead traversing rotary grinding wheel, billet handling apparatus comprising a frame, said frame being mounted on wheel means, means for selectively rotating the wheelmeans to propel the frame relative to the grinding wheel, a billet holding fixture, means mounting the xture on the frame, receptacle means on the frame adjacent the fixture, means for displacing a billet from the fixture into the receptacle means in position to receive a billet from the fixture, said receptacle means including a conveyor, said conveyor extending transversely of the frame and having one end adjacent an edge of the frame, means mounting said one end of the conveyor for swinging movement on the frame, motor means for raising the opposite end of the conveyor whereby billets are dispensed oli of the frame, and means on the frame adjacent the conveyor for supporting cylindrical billets in position for engagement by the grinding wheel. A

7. Apparatus for supporting and conveying billets in a grinder of the type having `a beam supported between standards and an abrasive wheel on a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement along the beam, comprising 'a car, means mounting the car for movement transversely relative to the beam in a path between the standards, a billet holding fixture, means mounting the fixture on the car, a storage table separate from the car and in said path, said table having a billet supporting surface overlapping the fixture when the carV is positioned adjacent the table, and means on the table for removing billets individually from the supporting surface to the fixture.

8. Apparatus for supporting and conveying billets in a grinder of the type having a beam supported between standards and a rotary abrasive Wheel on a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement alongV the beam, comprising a car, means mounting the car for movement transversely relative to the beam in a path between the standards, a billet holding fixture, means mounting the iixture on the car, said fixture including stops along one longitudinal edge and a pair of arms mounted adjacent the opposite edge, means for swinging the arms toward and away from the stops, a storage table separate from the car and in said path, said table having a billet supporting surface overlapping the fixture when the car is positioned adjacent the table, means on the table for displacing billets individually from the supporting surface to the fixture, whereby a billet is removed from the table onto the iixture between the stops and the arms.

9; Apparatus for supporting and conveying billets in a grinder-of the type having a beam supported between standards and a rotary abrasive wheel on a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement along the beam, comprising a car, means mounting the car for movement transversely relative to the beam in a path between the standards, a billet holding fixture, means mounting the xture on the car, a storage table separate from the car and in said path, said table having a billet supporting surface overlapping the fixture when the car is positioned adjacent the table, means on the table for displacing billets individually from the supporting surface to the fixture, and means on the ixture for discharging the billets from the iixture.

it?. Apparatus for supporting and conveying billets in a grinder of the type having a beam supported between standards and a rotary abrasive wheel on a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement along the beam, comprising a car, means mounting the car for movement transversely relative to the beam in a path between the standards., a billet holding fixture having opposite longitudinal edges, means mounting the fixture on the car, said fixture including stops along one longitudinal edge and a pair of arms mounted adjacent the `opposite longitudinal edge, means for swinging the arms toward and away from the stops, a storage table separate from the car and in said path, said t-able having a billet supporting surface and an edge adjacent the car, said last-mentioned edge having sockets therein corresponding to the size and position of said arms, means on the table for displacing billets individually from the supporting surface to the lixture between the arms and the stops.

il. A billet workholder for a grinder of the type having a beam supported between standards and an abrasive wheel on a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement along the beam, comprising a car, means mounting the car for movement transversely relative to the beam and between the standards, a billet holding fixture having opposite longitudinal edges, means mounting the fixture on the car, said fixture including stops along one longitudinal edge and a pair of arms mounted adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge, and means for swinging the arms angularly relative to the stops for clamping a billet therebetween, said stops being in the form of rotary cams each having a radial lobe normally positioned under the billet, whereby upon rotation of the cam, the billet is rotated from one side to the adjacent side.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,952,334 3/34 Robinson 51-38 2,505,076 5/50 Garrison 51-34.4 2,807,123 9/57 Palmer 5l--34.5 2,819,563 1/58 Lowe 51-45 3,096,889 7/63 Vekovins et al. 51-45 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Examiner. 

5. IN A GRINDING MACHINE HAVING AN OVERHEAD TRAVERSING ROTARY GRINDING WHEEL, BILLET HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME, SAID FRAME BEING MOUNTED ON WHEEL MEANS, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING THE WHEEL MEANS TO PROPEL THE FRAME RELATIVE TO THE GRINDING WHEEL, A BILLET HOLDING FIXTURE, MEANS MOUNTING THE FIXTURE ON THE FRAME, RECEPTACLE MEANS ON THE FRAME ADJACENT THE FIXTURE IN POSITION TO RECEIVE A BILLET FROM THE FIXTURE, AND MEANS 